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Related Concept Videos

Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
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Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells

The intestinal epithelial lining rapidly renews every 4 to 5 days. The renewal is facilitated by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt– a gland located at the bottom of each villus. ISCs divide asymmetrically to form new stem cells and progenitor daughter cells. The daughter cells are called transit-amplifying (TA) cells which move upwards along the crypt and either differentiate into absorptive cells– the enterocytes or secretory cells– including the goblet,...
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Surface Membrane Barriers

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Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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Mucosal T cells regulate Paneth and intermediate cell numbers in the small intestine of T. spiralis-infected mice.

Clinical and experimental immunology·2001
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Secretion of microbicidal alpha-defensins by intestinal Paneth cells in response to bacteria.

Nature immunology·2001
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Paneth cell defensins and innate immunity of the small bowel.

Inflammatory bowel diseases·2001
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Characterization of luminal paneth cell alpha-defensins in mouse small intestine. Attenuated antimicrobial activities of peptides with truncated amino termini.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2000
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Probing the structure of photosystem II with amines and phenylhydrazine.

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In vitro Coculture Assay to Assess Pathogen Induced Neutrophil Trans-epithelial Migration
14:14

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Published on: January 6, 2014

Paneth cell alpha-defensin synthesis and function.

A J Ouellette1

  • 1Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697-4800, USA. aouellet@uci.edu

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|August 17, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from Paneth cells protect the small intestine from pathogens. Defects in these AMPs can disrupt gut immunity and lead to disease.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial for innate immunity across species.
  • Mammals possess two main AMP families: cathelicidins and defensins, found in leukocytes and secreted by epithelial cells.
  • Paneth cells in the small intestine secrete alpha-defensins and other AMPs, particularly in response to stimuli like bacterial antigens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Paneth cell alpha-defensins in small intestinal immunity.
  • To understand how Paneth cell AMPs protect against enteric infections and influence gut microbiota.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the function and secretion of Paneth cell alpha-defensins.
  • It infers their role in protecting crypt cells and conferring resistance to pathogens like Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

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Main Results:

  • Paneth cell alpha-defensins exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in the extracellular environment.
  • Their secretion protects mitotically active crypt cells and confers resistance to enteric infections, as shown in transgenic mouse models.
  • These defensins may also modulate the enteric microbial flora composition.

Conclusions:

  • Paneth cell alpha-defensins are key components of the small intestine's innate immune defense.
  • Dysfunctional AMPs in Paneth cells can impair crypt immunity, potentially contributing to immunopathology and disease.